Page 15 of Her Dragon Daddy Disaster
“Thank you,” I whispered, gathering my mom in a hug.
My dad came out at that moment, sensing it was time. SuperPawMegaDog was under his arm, happily chomping away on the slipper he’d stolen.
“Time?” he asked, looking back and forth.
I nodded, and a second later, I was swept into a giant bearhug.
“Love you, my baby,” he said. “Take care of yourself, okay? We’ll hold the fort down until you can come back.”
We both knew I wasn’t coming back, but I appreciated him saying it, nonetheless.
“I will,” I said. I hugged Jakub once, and once I let go, he clung tighter to his grandmother’s leg, if that were possible. The seriousness of the moment was getting to him. “I’ll always remember you, little buddy. Don’t forget me, okay?”
“I won’t.”
Did he even know what he was saying? I wasn’t sure.
Then it was time. I hoisted my bag and opened the door, staring daggers at the big black SUV waiting at the end of the driveway.
My chest rose as I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.
You can do this.
I stepped from the house onto the front walkway.
“Mommy! Wait! Come back!”
“Oh, baby!” I cried, turning to sweep my son into my arms as he charged down the sidewalk bawling his eyes out.
I spun him around, squeezing so tight I thought I might hurt him.
“I’m sorry, Mommy. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. I promise! Just don’t go!”
The tears flowed like waterfalls. “Oh, my baby. You didn’t do anything wrong, okay? You understand me? You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re a good boy. This isn’t about you?”
“Why you going, then?”
“Beca-because … because I have to,” I said, my voice breaking.
“To protect the people?” he asked hopefully. That was what I told him I did for work.
“To protect the people,” I repeated. “That’s what Mommy does.”
“Okay, Mommy,” little Jakub said as if that made everything right in the world. “Time to go to work.”
“Yes, my baby,” I said, ruffling his hair and kissing his head. “Time for Mommy to go to work. I love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I kissed him again, and before I could do anything else, I turned and walked down the driveway. The passenger popped out of his front seat and opened the door for me. He wisely said nothing and didn’t try to make eye contact.
I waved goodbye one last time before the door shut and the tinted windows shut me off from his sight. Then we were gone, pulling away before I could rush back out one more time.
Then it hit me, and I bent forward, forehead on the seat in front of me as the bottom of my stomach gave out and emptiness flooded me.
I whispered into that vacuum. “What have I done?”
Chapter Six
